It’s for the Best That Russell Met the True Death:

Denis O’Hare played 3,000 year old vampire Russell Edgington onscreen for only two seasons, but his presence definitely colored a third. Mr. O’Hare says that he had a great time working on HBO’s True Blood, but there was no question that it was Russell’s time to die. The love story between Russell and Steve Newlin (Michael McMillian) made working on Season 5 a pleasure, and Mr. O’Hare can’t rule out a Godric-esque flashback for his character, but he maintains that true death at the hands of Eric Northman (Alex Skarsgård) was right.

Mr. O’Hare says that he didn’t know definitively for some time that Russell was going to meet the true death. There was much discussion and controversy as to how it should happen. There was never any question that Russell would die at the hands of Eric, the only question was the circumstances. In the end, making him drunk on fairy blood and leaving him vulnerable to a sneak attack from Eric was the most plausible, given Russell’s greater age and power. While some have speculated as to why Russell wasn’t more strategic about the time of day he drank the fairy blood, Mr. O’Hare replied:

“There’s no fairy blood handbook. No one has any schematics on how much fairy blood you should take to be in the sun, how long you can survive in the sun on it. Is it good for a year? A day? And Russell is more instinctual versus strategic. I’m not sure he has a plan, so he’s not thinking, I should wait until 7:30.”

The final moment of Russell’s life pleased Mr. O’Hare. He enjoyed the disappointed but accepting reaction. Mr. O’Hare believes that Russell has lost the enjoyment of living and the pursuit of power simply is no longer enough. His attachment to Steve Newlin was pleasant, but simply not enough. Mr. O’Hare says that one of the most enjoyable things about Season 5 was working with Michael McMillian. They worked well enough together to be able to improv and adlib scenes and dialog. While much of it was edited out, there were still many things that made it to the screen.

Mr. O’Hare Talks of the True Blood Cast and Speculates on the Future

Of the many things Mr. O’Hare says that he will miss about working on True Blood, he names the cast as what he will miss the most. Not only did all the actors work well together, but they were friends as well, often hanging out together onset. One member of the primary cast (who Mr. O’Hare will not name), continued to advocate to keep Russell Edgington alive. Alan Ball and the head writers sadly could not agree and said:

“For credibility’s sake, he has to go. We can’t let him survive again.”

Mr. O’Hare was asked to speculate on the future of True Blood storylines, and Russell’s possible place in them. He says that Bill Compton’s story is so divergent from the books there is no way to guess which direction it will go from here. While Mr. O’Hare has written a complete backstory for Russell, and provided it to the show writers, he has no idea if any of it will ever be incorporated into the show. For that reason, he’s not sure if Russell’s maker will ever become known, or if he has any progeny who might provide opportunities for flashbacks or visitations. Mr. O’Hare says that it’s possible that Eric is the closest Russell has ever gotten to feeling as though he had a true son:

“There was a lovely scene in season three where Russell and Eric had an intense moment, where Eric accepts his authority, and kneels before him, and you discover how Russell never had a son and he adopts Eric. That scene was cut, but there is an echo of that when Eric kneeled before him again this season. And for Eric to take Russell’s life, it was appropriate, and Russell knew that and he welcomed it. This was the only person he’s ever accepted as a son.”

How did you feel upon witnessing Russell’s true death? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

The Actors Sat Down at San Diego ComicCon to Discuss HBO’s Vampire Drama:

Just before the ComicCon panel for HBO’s True Blood, Joe Manangiello and Kristin Bauer van Straten sat down together to discuss their characters in the series’ Season 5. Mr. Manangiello plays hunky werewolf Alcide Herveaux and Ms. Bauer van Straten portrays snarky vampire Pamela de Beaufort.

Both actors look forward to and enjoy the fan interaction of their ComicCon appearances. They agreed that the True Blood panel was as close to being a Beatle as either of them will ever get. Ratings numbers and internet chatter does not provide the same pleasure as seeing the enthusiastic faces of fans.

Mr. Manangiello readily revealed that Alcide will be having a great deal of sex during Season 5.

“I really feel like I’m having the full True Blood experience. I get to have sex with a bunch of people. I get around sexually, I kill people. It’s pretty rad.”

Both actors agreed that True Blood is very much about relationships in Season 5, both the sexual and the emotional. Ms. Bauer Van Straten, however, is disappointed that her character has yet to kill anyone on screen. She says she watches Alex (Skarsgård) ripping bodies apart and wishes she got to do that.

Ms. Bauer van Straten’s character Pam, has become a maker in Season 5, having turned Tara (Rutina Wesley) in order to save her life. At the same time, Pam has been released by her own maker, Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård).

“Everything really is at stake for Pam. It expanded this year for me. Pam became totally 3D.”

Kristin and Joe Discuss Sex with Werewolves and the True Blood Season 5 Finale

Mr. Manangiello revealed that there is a rougher version of Alcide’s drunken make-out session with Sookie (Anna Paquin) than the one that finally aired. That footage, however, is on the cutting room floor. He also told about conversations he had with showrunner Alan Ball, before the filming of Season 5 regarding what sex with a werewolf would be like.

“We both agreed that the girl wakes up in the morning and does that ‘Oh’ thing, and then does the cowgirl walk the whole day.”

Ms. Bauer van Straten confessed to being a geek herself over the television show Battlestar Galactica. At a previous ComicCon she met Tricia Helfer (Cylon Number Six), who had never seen True Blood and didn’t realize Ms. Bauer van Straten was also an actress.

“So I have this really awkward photo with Tricia Helfer somewhere.”

When asked about the True Blood Season 5 finale, neither actor could say much without spoilers. Ms. Bauer van Straten was happy with what Pam got to do during her scenes. Mr. Manganiello was thrilled to have Robert Patrick (Terminator 2) playing his father and said his scenes are sufficiently bloody.

This video is a very entertaining watch. The actors interact with friendship and humor that can’t be described and do it justice.

For a small fortune (and the promise of a steady supply of medicinal quality V) TrueBloodNet.com has gotten Dr. L to agree to answer your supernatural medical questions. Ask Dr. L is written by Dr. L (any resemblance to any characters living, dead or undead is purely coincidental), also known as Doctor to the Supernaturals, and was founded by her mother, Philine Paullips. It is the most popular and widely syndicated supernatural medical advice column in this world — or any other. Known for its uncommon nonsense and immortal, or just darn old, perspective.

September 20, 2010

So Dr. L,

I’m kinda confused by the whole “making” a vampire thing or what did they call them, “prodginey?” Eric even said, “the only vampire you can trust is the one you made.” Is it vampire law or just the way vampires work that they can only make one vampire? Like can Bill make another vampires now that he has Jessica? If Jessica were to die can he make another? Franklin also mentioned making Tara his bride, is the bride the same as a child? Lots of weird relationships going on when it comes to the fangs.

-Genalogical Gary

Dear GG,

First of all, did you mean “progeny“? Because for the life of me, I can’t figure out what a “prodginey” is… Sheesh!
OK, now that we’ve had a spelling lesson, let me address your question. I personally feel this idea of vampires only being able to make one evil spawn of themselves is just to lull humans into feeling safer than they really are. In fact, I can see no reason that these foul creatures could not turn as many people as they had the opportunity to. I think they just don’t do it very often, because the unlucky folks they bite are just a food source to them, so they suck them dry and let them die. Ooooohhhh! I made a rhyme!
I am happy you brought up dear Tara. Such a beautiful girl, and a veritable punching bag for weird male partners! Poor girl. I wish she’d come see me for some much needed counseling, and perhaps a little of my Kung Fu training as well. Tara dear, if you’re reading this, call me.
Oh, and no, a bride is not the same as a child- unless she is a child bride- and that cracks open doors I have no intention of going through…

Hey Dr. L,

Okay so seeing Tommy changing into a dog for dog fighting, although awful, really got me thinking: What other types of things do shifters do to be profitable? Like is everything we see at a zoo a shift? Do shifters run Sea World and are the dolphins really shifters and that’s why they can do all those cool tricks? The circus lions? Shifters too? I mean if not, you and I should cash in on this and work with all the shifters in the land. Can you imagine the success?

-Seeing Dollar Signs

Dear Dollar Sign,

I wonder just what you smoked or ingested before you asked me a question such as this. Did you get your hands on some illegal “V“? First of all, there isn’t a snowball’s chance in Tahiti that “you and I” will ever cash in on anything together.
As for real animals vs shifters, the less you and the rest of humanity know, the better. I fear these creatures are exploited enough, without the likes of Seeing Dollar Signs getting involved. The nerve!! Get a job- I hear McD’s is hiring…

Dr. Ludwig,

Do you know whether or not the military accepts supernaturals into their ranks? I know that the supernaturals have skills and abilities that I’m sure can make the military an effective fighting force. But, I also know that some of the supernaturals can be rather unstable. Do you know the official stance?
Thank you ma’am,

Recruit Valesquez

Hello, young Recruit,

This is quite an interesting query. As you may know, I am involved in many highly sensitive government projects, including the military. So I am not at liberty to fully answer your question. But I will say this much, our military deserves our respect, our support, our highest regard, and super top quality rations, such as Kibbles N Bits and raw meat…

Whas’up D to the R to the L,

So my question goes a little something like this: What do the vampers do for Halloween? Like to me, it would seem like a little cliché for them to be outs and abouts. They are like Halloween all year round, wouldn’t it be a bit much for them to be all like Gothic on the one day a year its social acceptable and all that jazz? It’d be like putting chocolate syrup on a chocolate ice cream. Too much of a good thing yo. Maybe vampers dress up like normal humans? That would High-Lair-E-Us.

-Steve

Steve,

I’d like to offer you a courtesy consult with me to do a CAT scan to determine whether you actually have two brain cells to rub together. Trust me when I tell you, this is an offer not to be declined, as it would cost thousands of dollars. The trade off would be that I have total use of the results to use in my teaching, as proof that humans CAN live without a brain…
As for vampires and Halloween, that is pretty much any and every day for them, what with the blood running out of their eyes, no breath, no heartbeat, ice cold skin, and so on. So yes, their trying to pass themselves off as “normal” humans would be a real scream.
But what is wrong with chocolate syrup on chocolate ice cream?

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Disclaimer: These answers are provided for entertainment purposes only and should not be followed by ordinary humans. This column is a parody of the Gothic fantasy series, True Blood, and as such, is presented here for your amusement. Ask Dr. L and the various writers that contribute to it, have no relationship/affiliation to HBO, True Blood, or any of the cast or crew of said nor any relation to Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels.